Haley Barbour Senses Opening for Good ol' Republican Governor in Mississippi

Memphis, TN, Commercial Appeal ^ | 05-05-03 | Branson, Reed

[Theodore R.]

Haley Barbour senses opening for good ol' Republican governor By Reed Branson branson@gomemphis.com May 5, 2003

Editor's note: This is one of an occasional series of stories from the campaign trail on the candidates seeking office in Mississippi this year.

BOONEVILLE, Miss. - Republican Haley Barbour is treading on traditionally Democratic soil here in Northeast Mississippi - and not too lightly.

The former national Republican operative-turned-super-lobbyist blazed through the breakfast buffets and coffee shops of Prentiss, Alcorn and Itawamba counties recently, targeting these crucial swing counties where the remnants of a rural, white New Deal-inspired Democratic tradition remain palpable.

Democrat Gov. Ronnie Musgrove, who is seeking re-election, carried most of the region in 1999, but it also has swung Republican in some national and state elections. And with the economy reeling, state government broke and unease among voters, Barbour senses opportunity.

"There are Democrats all over Northeast Mississippi, all over the state, who know we need a change," Barbour told a gathering of Prentiss County Republicans over a lunch at the community college here. "You don't have to be Republican to vote for Haley Bar bour."

Barbour, 55, is charging forward in his bid for the governor's mansion (the general election is Nov. 4) with confidence, and with perhaps more money and organization than any Republican who has ever run for statewide office in Mississippi.

Much has been made of his international corporate Rolodex, and his longtime connections to grass-roots Mississippi Republicans. He's easily expected to raise more money and spend more than any man who's ever sought the office - including Musgrove.

And he's getting lots of high-powered help. Former president George Bush staged a fund-raiser for Barbour last week, and President George W. Bush also is expected to lend a hand.

Campaign finance reports filed in January covering the calendar year 2002 showed Musgrove had raised $664,000 and had $1.4 million in the bank; Barbour had raised $413,549 and spent none.

The record for spending in a Mississippi gubernatorial race was set in 1999 when Musgrove and Republican Mike Parker spent a combined $5.6 million. Barbour's campaign alone is expected to spend more than that this year.

Barbour is preparing for the ground war - the intense effort through direct mail, marketing, telephone banks and door-to-door work in neighborhoods to get his people to the polls. By Memorial Day, or shortly after, he says he will have a chairman in every county. Soon after, "we'll have one in every precinct,'' he said. Mississippi has 2,031 precincts.

Said Barbour, "We're off to a great start. But it's still just a start.''

Indeed, Barbour also faces significant challenges. For one thing, he's running against an incumbent.

Musgrove, elected to his first term in 1999, is not expected to face a formidable challenge in the Democratic primary and is known for his tireless campaign schedule. Moreover, he has a teacher pay raise and new Nissan assembly plant to point to as accomplishments.

Barbour, on the other hand, has an opponent in the Aug. 5 Republican primary. Mitch Tyner, 40, is a lawyer in Jackson who specializes in representing plaintiffs. Tyner is hardly a well-known quantity in GOP leadership circles, but he appears to have the money and energy to at least cause Barbour some discomfort.

"He's been a fixture in Washington for the last 22 years . . . he's a tobacco lawyer, he's represented huge corporations,'' Tyner said of Barbour in a recent interview.

Tyner is critical of what he says was outreach to the gaming industry and homosexual groups by the Republican National Committee under Barbour's tenure as party chairman. "It is inconsistent with our family values,'' he said.

Democrats hammered Barbour in 1997 for arranging a 1994 foreign-backed loan to a Republican Party subsidiary - another likely campaign issue in 2003.

While Barbour would differ with Tyner's characterization of his career, he is, indeed, a good ol' boy from Yazoo City with a sweet barbecue drawl who made it big in Washington.

He was defeated in a 1982 bid for the U.S. Senate against then-incumbent Sen. John Stennis (D-Miss.), but he went on to work as a political director in the White House for President Reagan.

In 1994, he was at the GOP helm - as RNC chairman - when Republicans took over both houses of Congress.

Shortly after he returned to a Washington lobbying career begun after his stint in the White House. He represented some stars of mainstream American industry such as Microsoft and BellSouth, as well as less popular businesses like drug companies and the major cigarette manufacturers.

On the campaign trail, Barbour says his lobbying experience should be a plus, evidence of management and political skills that would be needed in the governor's mansion here.

Indeed, he boasts about a Fortune magazine ranking that listed Barbour, Griffith and Rogers as the nation's top lobbying firm.

"We got these three country boys down South (his partners were from Mississippi and Alabama) and they picked us the top lobbying firm in the United States,'' Barbour said.

But most of his stump speech is centered on Mississippi and its direction. He is calling for more tort reform, and point ing to the state's Medicaid budget, saying it is too far out of balance.

Beyond that, though, Barbour has offered few specifics about his plans for the state if elected.

He complains the state is relying too heavily on non-recurring money to limp by from year to year rather than face its budget problems head on. Although the conservative Republican disavows any new taxes, when asked if there is room in the near future for tax cuts, Barbour simply says "No."

He is quick to blame Musgrove for a failure of leadership, but dismisses reminders that Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck - now a colleague on the Republican ticket after she switched parties in November - played as large a role in writing many of the budget schemes of which he is so critical.

Instead, Barbour points to the bickering between Musgrove and lawmakers as a sign of the governor's failed leadership. "This Legislature is dying for a governor to provide leadership and who they can work with. I will be involved with the Legislature, in an open and honest way, from the outset. The governor can't dictate . . . but the governor can lead."

Contact Jackson, Miss., Bureau reporter Reed Branson at (601) 352-8631.

[Theodore R.]

The biggest shock of this campaign would not be if Barbour were elected in November but if he were to lost the primary to a strong conservative. If the Democrats were really sharp, they would invade the Republican primary and vote for Tyner, much as some mischievous Republicans in SC say they will go into the 2004 Democrat primary and vote for Al Sharpton!

[dixiechick2000]

Mississippi Ping!

[SwinneySwitch]

Give 'em hell, HALEY!

[kellynla]

I don't follow MS politics but wouldn't it be exciting if there were a black pro-life conservative Republican to run for governor...

[Theodore R.]

"crucial swing counties where the remnants of a rural, white New Deal-inspired Democratic tradition remain palpable"

These are areas where the voters' parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents supported the legendary Theodore Bilbo.

[kellynla]

Wasn't if Bilbo who told the electors of Mississippi in 1940 that: "I want to make it impossible for the Negro to Vote and thus guarantee white supremacy "

[JohnnyZ]

The biggest shock of this campaign would not be if Barbour were elected in November but if he were to lose the primary to a strong conservative.

That would indeed be a shock, considering that he IS the strong conservative in the primary.

Mitch Tyner is, as mentioned, a trial lawyer in the John Edwards mold who just happens to have given lots of money to Democrats in past elections.

[WKB]

I don't follow MS politics but wouldn't it be exciting if there were a black pro-life conservative Republican to run for governor...

And there are some in Mississippi!

[WKB]

Wasn't if Bilbo who told the electors of Mississippi in 1940 that: "I want to make it impossible for the Negro to Vote and thus guarantee white supremacy

He also said "put 'em all on a boat back to Africa"

[wardaddy]

Honey....if they had one of any stature...they'd run him...trust me.

[bourbon]

the legendary notorious Theodore Bilbo.

I think that's what you meant to say. ;-)

[kellynla]

"honey?" only my wife calls me honey! LOL... BTW according to WKB there are black conservative pro-life Republicans in MS.

[bourbon]

A democratic professor (not originally from MS) asked me a series of questions the other day that I simply could not answer. He asked me why would Haley Barbour be running for governor? What does he stand to gain from it? Doesn't he already have it all ($$$, power, political connections)? Does he really just want to be Governor b/c he "loves MS" or is he gunning for higher office (Senator? President?)?

Even though I fully support Barbour's candidacy, I freely admit that I don't really know the answers to these questions, so I just spat back what I'm sure sounded like a piece of campaign propaganda at my professor. I said I just thought that he loved the state and was tired of living in Washington. Despite this, my friend's questions did awaken a little curiosity in me as to what Haley's ultimate intentions really are.

Does anyone have some thoughts/info. on this subject?

[Theodore R.]

Oh, Tyner is a liberal candidate. My mistake.

[wardaddy]

My bad. Yes the black gent who owns the TV station in Jackson is a known conservative but because of threats to his life in Jackson, he now resides in Austin or San Antonio.

Btw....I don't believe in trumpeting anyone because of their race.

Many here trumpet Condi Rice simply because she is black yet she is not pro life.

Foolish indulgences that are not much different from the Dems modus opernadi.

[JohnnyZ]

I just thought that he loved the state and was tired of living in Washington.

Well, that's a pretty good start. I seriously doubt Haley's got some plan for holding further offices, unless Miss. Republicans siriusly needed a strong candidate for senate at some point. I suspect it's mostly about getting Mississippi, and the Mississippi Republican Party, on the right track and into Majority Status in the state, including making strong inroads among black voters. Stopping the high tax/ poor economy spiral of poverty in the Deep South. That sort of thing.

[wardaddy]

Yep....and hopefully reeling in the tort kings...a Herculean task.

[WKB]

why would Haley Barbour be running for governor?

It would have to be out of a desire to make Ms a better place. No doubt he is better off where he is.
He may be thinking of President but I doubt it.

[bourbon]

I suspect it's mostly about getting Mississippi, and the Mississippi Republican Party, on the right track and into Majority Status in the state, including making strong inroads among black voters. Stopping the high tax/ poor economy spiral of poverty in the Deep South.

ooooh. I certainly hope so!!! Nevertheless, it would be nice if Barbour would announce his intentions, so folks like us wouldn't have to make these kinds of interpolations in his defense.

[kellynla]

Well I am sure that you know where I am coming from...Not that the person be black but what a great idea if the GOP could find a well qualified conservative candidate who just so happens to be black. That would undoubtedly trump any candidate the Dimwits would come up with don't you think?

[wardaddy]

Oh yes I agree with that. The TV station fellow even took out billboards in Jackson admonishing the gang culture and illegitimacy that is so pervasive there. He left for his own safety so I'm told.

The Jackson City Council has some certifiable criminals as members....very corrupted. It's a mess.

I'm not sure what Haley can do for Mississippi...the problems are so damned entrenched and the remedies so few.

I have never in my life seen a city decline as rapidly as Jackson has in the past 20 years...my hometown.

[wardaddy]

He bud.

I think Haley has been spending a lot more time in Yazoo these past few years.

My cousin there went thru a divorce recently and tried to hire him for some interference work with the local judge and met with him at his office but Haley declined since he already represented her husband's plantation at Midnight.

[bourbon]

interesting. I know he loves Yazoo City. I bet he is really tired of DC. I know that I can't spend more than a couple months in DC w/o practically going insane, so I empathize with Barbour.

BTW, I think you were referring to Frank Melton the owner of WLBT in Jackson in your earlier posts. That guy used to live in a fort masquerading as a house in N.E. Jackson (on a cul-de-sac near the Rollingwood subdivision off Old Canton Rd.). He had armed guards there at all hours of the night, and the house was surrounded by a monstruous 9-10ft. high fence. Some of my friends in high school made the mistake of "parking" down there one night, only to be found in flagrante delicto by his rent-a-cop army.

Lots of folks in town say he had legitimate fears for his life. Certainly, he had many enemies among Jackson's entrenched criminal culture. But then others said he was a bit of a paranoid. I could never tell who was right. I did appreciate his attacks on the City Council and his "outing" of the criminal element in Jackson.

[afuturegovernor]

I attended one of Barbour's organizational meetings in Hattiesburg this past weekend.

I think he loves politics and has been in the shadows since his failed 1982 Senate bid and wants to get into the spotlight again. Once your bit by the political bug its just something you want to do. I think he believes he can led the GOP into a breakthrough year like Georgia had in 2002.

Some people have wondered if he has the fire in his belly to make a run.

After hearing talk off the record I have no doubt he does. I think he smells blood in the water of Musgrove's horrible record in Mississippi and knows its a great chance to run.

He mentioned Parker's lack of organization, fire and passion, and issueless campaign for reasons for the GOP's failure last election. I think he's tired of Democrats pretending to be conservatives in Mississippi and I am too.

[A. Patriot]

Oh yes I agree with that. The TV station fellow even took out billboards in Jackson admonishing the gang culture and illegitimacy that is so pervasive there. He left for his own safety so I'm told.

He's baaaack!! CLICK HERE

Actually, I don't think he ever left. He maintains 2 residences, one in Mississippi and one in Texas. He has done this for years.

[wardaddy]

Thanks for the info....I only know about the guy what my kinfolks down there tell me. They liked him I gathered.

Rollingwood was "High Cotton" when I was a boy on the West Side over behind Mynelle Gardens off Clinton Blvd....before we moved out NE when I was 14.

Now you know how that area is. My grandpa's country squire homeplace was on Clinton Blvd, and is now the Reformed Theological Seminary.

We are coming down sometime this summer btw.

I have never lived in DC...visited on business or tourism maybe 6 times. Pretty....Gerogetown and Adams/Morgans had lots of babes but nah...I wouldn't want to live there either.

[wardaddy]

Damn...am i out of the loop or what.

I remember back when I was in college the Director of Narcotics was arrested shoplifting....around 1980 or so I think.

[bourbon]

I think he's tired of Democrats pretending to be conservatives in Mississippi and I am too.

Great post! I was hoping somebody with personal knowledge of the campaign would respond to my question. Thanks.

I agree too that Parker was a poor candidate for the GOP. He was a recently-converted Democrat, and he had a dreadful public personality. I guess spending all those years as a funeral director in South MS really does take the life out of somebody! (snicker, snicker, SORRY that's a really bad joke!). :-)

[bourbon]

hey, thanks for the news on Melton. Somehow that had passed under my radar!

[dixiechick2000]

1. Ego

2. Republicans need a candidate that's well known

3. He does love Mississippi

There is one reason he will not run for President---he's too short.;o)

All of that being said, I like Haley. Hubby and I spent the evening with him and his wife a few years ago and found him to be thoroughly engaging and personable.

I wish him all the best.

[dixiechick2000]

I admit that I have been out of Mississippi for some time, but what about James Meredith?

I believe he is a Republican...he worked for Sen. Jesse Helms.

Is he back in Mississippi?

[WKB]

Is he back in Mississippi?

He is in Ms. I see him on TV from time to time but I do not know what he is doing.
Also Charles Evers ( brother of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers) is a Republican.

[Theodore R.]

Meredith,a long-time Republican, also once worked for David Duke in LA. He would be in his early sixties, and I think he does still live in MS.

[dixiechick2000]

Thanks! I thought he may be back in Mississippi.

WKB, thanks for the Charles Evers reminder.

I believe there may quite a few black Republicans that could be nurtured by the party to run for office.

[WKB]

We have had several good blacks run against Bennie Thompson in the 2 district but to no avail.
Black voters even the black Christians haven't figured it out yet.
One day maybe one day

[dixiechick2000]

The Republicans need to get some young'uns and groom them. They need to start on the local level, like the city councils, then make their way to the state legislature, then state wide office before they run for the House of Representatives in DC. That way, they are a known quantity, and not just and "R" or a "D".

It will take time, though.

[dixiechick2000]

AN "R"...sheesh

[WKB]

When and where were you in MS?

[dixiechick2000]

Born and raised in Meridian, and my family is still there. I married a Navy flight school student in 1970, so I've been gone since then. However, I go back a couple of times a year to visit.

Where are you?

[WKB]

I am near Yazoo City The home of some famous and not so famous people.

[dixiechick2000]

LOL! Well, we're both on I20. That should count for something.;o)

I guess that means people come and go (pass through) all the time!

[dixiechick2000]

My Lord! I've gone brain dead!

I was thinking of Vicksburg.

Sorry...and I DO know where Yazoo City is.;o)

[WKB]

Yazoo is 50 miles due north of V'burg. 50 miles north west of Jackson.
Zig Ziglar, Jerry Clower, Wllie Morris,
Willie Richardson, Ben Williams,(Sports)
Mike Espy and Haley Barbour to name a few

[dixiechick2000]

I know! I don't know what I was thinking!

I love Jerry Clower, have heard Zig speak, hoped Espy would go to jail, and hope Haley is elected Governor.

Is Willie Morris, "Mercury" Morris? If so, loved him in his day, too.

[WKB]

No Willie Morris was a writer who died a fews years ago.
He was a liberal NYer more than a MS boy.

[stboz]

We have had several good blacks run against Bennie Thompson in the 2 district but to no avail. Black voters even the black Christians haven't figured it out yet. One day maybe one day

We helped campaign for Clinton LeSuer the last time around. If the @%$*! National Party had helped out with some face time on TV, we'd have another Republican in Congress. Bennie is beatable even if he is the richest Black in Congress.

[WKB]

We helped campaign for Clinton LeSuer the last time around. If the @%$*! National Party had helped out with some face time on TV, we'd have another Republican in Congress. Bennie is beatable even if he is the richest Black in Congress.

You are right! So very right.
Last time the Republicans spent all their money on the golden boy Chip.

[dixiechick2000]

Oh...thanks.

"He was a liberal NYer more than a MS boy."

Too bad...I hate when that happens.

[WKB]

One more thing. Have you wanted a new screen name in the past few weeks?

[dixiechick2000]

LOL! There was I time when I considered changing it. But, the DCs have nothing to do with my screen name, so I decided against it. In fact, I had not heard of them when I decided on this screen name.

I started lurking just after the Monica thing broke (Jan.'98). When I finally had the courage to sign up in Jan., '99, the name had been taken. There was another name I wanted ("magnolia"), but it was taken, as well. So, I dropped it. Then, when the election was heating up, I decided to put the "2000" on the end and, viola!, here I am today.

The DC thing will die down eventually. For now, though, when someone makes a comment, I find humor helps.;o)